Gus Atkinson sidelined by injury ahead of ODI series

In England, Gus Atkinson, a fast bowler for the national cricket team, was announced to be missing from the one-day international series against the West Indies due to a right hamstring strain. The injury occurred during the final stages of a recent match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, where Atkinson was visibly in pain and only managed to bowl three overs on the last day of play. After a thorough assessment of the injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board decided against risking the 27-year-old pacer in the upcoming series, which marks Harry Brook’s debut as the captain of the white-ball format. Atkinson had previously displayed commendable performance, securing three wickets in the match against Zimbabwe, and was not seen as a major doubt for the subsequent test series against India scheduled to begin on June 20, 2025. England's coaching and medical team will be supervising Atkinson as he undergoes a rehabilitation period to recover from the injury. Importantly, no replacement player is to be added to the ODI squad, underscoring the team's confidence in the existing players to perform effectively in the absence of Atkinson. With several other key players, including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Chris Woakes, already sidelined due to injuries, the England team is under considerable pressure to maintain their competitive edge in both the ODI series and the upcoming test series against India.